South Dakota Road Trip Itinerary: Best Things to Do in the Black Hills of South Dakota and Beyond
Are you looking to plan a South Dakota road trip? Let us help! In this guide, we’ll share all the best things to do in the Black Hills of South Dakota, and give you some ideas for how to plan your time so that you can make your own perfect South Dakota road trip itinerary, whether it’s for one day or one week!
I’ve wanted to visit South Dakota for a long time, mainly because I really wanted to see Badlands National Park. But once I got there, I realized I didn’t know exactly just how awesome South Dakota really was! From scenic drives with rock-carved tunnels, to epic mountain hikes, to caves, and even mammoth fossil sites, South Dakota surprisingly has it all!
In particular, the southwestern corner of the state, which encompasses a forested area known as the Black Hills, holds a number of South Dakota gems that you’ll want to put on any South Dakota road trip itinerary. From well known places like Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse, to places that might sound new to you, like Custer State Park and Jewel Cave National Monument, the Black Hills of South Dakota are definitely worth a visit.
In this guide, we’ll go over some of the top sights in the Black Hills and cover everything you need to know about planning a South Dakota road trip itinerary, including how much time you’ll need, when to go, what to do, and more!
In this South Dakota road trip itinerary guide:
Best Things to Do in the Black Hills of South Dakota
Ok, let’s cut right to the chase! From famous rock sculptures to unique wildlife, from the tallest mountain in South Dakota to massive underground caves, the Black Hills of South Dakota really have it all. Many people think there isn’t much to do here, but in reality, your biggest challenge will probably be what to pick out of everything there is to do!
Without further ado, here is a list of our ten top spots in the Black Hills of South Dakota (and beyond) to put on your South Dakota road trip itinerary.
Map of the best places in South Dakota's Black Hills
Mount Rushmore
Mount Rushmore is probably the most famous attraction in the Black Hills, if not the country. This massive rock sculpture of four influential presidents attracts people from all over to the Black Hills, so it’s a must-see on any South Dakota road trip itinerary.
Most people have the iconic Mount Rushmore on their South Dakota road trip itinerary!
We admit, before we visited Mount Rushmore, we weren’t too excited about it. I mean, how much is there to really see and do there other than to stare up at the sculpture and snap a few pictures before leaving?
But, we were totally wrong, and we actually really liked our visit to Mount Rushmore. Getting to see this incredible work of art up close and from every perspective imaginable was certainly worth the visit. Plus, we learned so much from the ranger talks.
You only need a few hours to visit Mount Rushmore, so even if it ends up not being your favorite thing to do in the Black Hills, it won’t cost you very much time on your trip!
Crazy Horse Memorial
Another top sight in the Black Hills of South Dakota, Crazy Horse Memorial is a good complement to your visit to Mount Rushmore and an easy stop to make on a South Dakota road trip. Crazy Horse Memorial is located off SD385, only about 30 minutes away from Mount Rushmore.
However, this memorial pays tribute to our early Native American history and culture, as it memorializes the famous warrior of the Oglala Lakota tribe, Crazy Horse. To learn more about the history and story of Crazy Horse, check out their website.
Just as breathtaking as Mount Rushmore, construction of Crazy Horse began in 1948 and is actually still a work in progress. During a visit to Crazy Horse Memorial, you can visit the grounds for up close viewing of the sculpture, visit museums and watch films to learn more about the history of Crazy Horse, attend cultural programs from local indigenous groups, and even attend an evening laser show. There are also optional tours for an extra fee where you can get even closer to the monument (right up to the base or even to the top).
Admission to Crazy Horse is about $12 to $15 per person depending on the time of year. Visit their website to learn more about their pricing, hours, and events to help you plan a visit!
Custer State Park
Custer State Park was one of our favorite places in the Black Hills of South Dakota!
There are lots of awesome things to do in Custer State Park, from scenic drives to epic hikes…plus, the park is famous for its amazing wildlife viewing! Here’s just a snapshot of some of the park’s best things to do for your South Dakota road trip:
Drive Wildlife Loop Road
This 18 mile route through Custer State Park is one of the best places in South Dakota to spot wildlife, particularly bison! It’s not uncommon on this road to get stuck in what’s commonly referred to as a “bison jam” (the best kind of traffic jam in our opinion!). Along the way, you might also spot prairie dogs, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, coyotes, and the park’s famous “begging burros”.
Wildlife Loop Road was where we saw the most bison on our South Dakota road trip!
Hike to the tallest peak in South Dakota
Custer State Park is home to Black Elk Peak, one of South Dakota’s best hikes! At 7,244 feet tall, Black Elk Peak is South Dakota’s tallest summit, and making the 7-8 mile trek is a bucketlist thing to do in South Dakota for many avid hikers.
Black Elk Peak had some of our favorite views on our South Dakota road trip
Drive Iron Mountain Road
This 17 mile route connects Custer State Park to Mount Rushmore through a series of cool pigtail turns and narrow rock tunnels that perfectly frame the famous sculpture. It’s a must-do South Dakota scenic drive!
Seeing Mount Rushmore from Iron Mountain road is a must-do on a South Dakota road trip
Drive the Needles Highway
Custer State Park has no shortage of scenic drives, and the Needles Highway should be at the top of your South Dakota itinerary. This 14 mile drive takes you through awesome views of towering spire-like rock formations, two narrow rock tunnels, and gives you access to a lot of Custer’s best hikes and spots (like Black Elk Peak and Sylvan Lake).
One of the tunnels on the Needles Highway in Custer State Park
Wind Cave National Park
Wind Cave National Park is one of the lesser visited National Parks in the country, but we’re here to tell you it should absolutely be on your South Dakota road trip itinerary!
At this National Park, you can go underground and explore one of the world’s most complex cave systems, plus there’s a bunch of hiking trails above ground to explore the prairie land and possibly spot some cool wildlife.
Mammoth Site
Just 10 minutes south of Wind Cave is Hot Springs, SD. We actually were here only briefly, after we realized we missed a turn to go somewhere else. So we simply turned around and left…but I sooo wish we hadn’t! Because later, I learned that Hot Springs is home to the Mammoth Site.
The Mammoth Site sounds like a fascinating thing to do in the Black Hills because it is an active paleontological dig site! It houses the world’s largest mammoth research site and you can tour the grounds and see active dig sites…how cool is that?
Check out their site to learn more about their hours, pricing, and activities. Don’t make our mistake, and make sure you have the Mammoth Site on your South Dakota road trip itinerary.
Jewel Cave National Monument
If you were totally fascinated by Wind Cave National Park and want to explore even more caves, then you’re in luck! The Black Hills are home to another awesome cave system…Jewel Cave National Monument. It’s located just 15 minutes west of Custer, in the heart of the Black Hills.
Jewel Cave is often overshadowed by the neighboring Wind Cave, but what makes it an amazing place to go in the Black Hills is that it is actually the third longest cave in the world! Here, you can enter the cave on a guided tour and learn all about its geology and formations.
Unfortunately, during our visit, tours of the Jewel Cave were closed for elevator repairs, but they seem to be open again! Make sure to check the site before you go for any alerts or notices on closures.
Even if the cave is closed, there are three above ground trails you can tackle, ranging from a quarter mile to over 5 miles that take you through forest, meadows, and above Hell Canyon for views, wildlife viewing, and wildflowers.
Badlands National Park
While not technically a part of the Black Hills, Badlands National Park is an absolute must-see in South Dakota and needs to be on your South Dakota road trip itinerary.
This park quickly became one of my favorite National Parks of all time! It has breathtaking scenery and hikes that make you feel like you’ve been transported to another world…maybe even Mars.
Some of the best things to do in Badlands National Park include:
Badlands Loops Road
We think this is the most scenic drive in South Dakota! This 28 mile scenic road runs right through the heart of the Badlands. Even if you never get out of your car, you’ll be treated to some of the most epic views in South Dakota. But of course, we highly recommend that you do get out of your car…with 12 overlooks and several trailheads, you can spend all day driving this route and exploring the park.
You’ll want add Badlands Loop Road to your South Dakota itinerary for views like these!
The Notch Trail
This was our favorite hike in Badlands National Park. At 1.4 miles, it’s a short but fun and challenging hike, requiring an exhilarating climb up a log ladder to the top of a Badlands wall.
Views from the Notch Trail in Badlands National Park
The Fossil Prep Lab
Located in the Ben Reifel Visitor Center, this is a working paleontology lab where you can watch scientists cleaning and prepping real fossils found throughout the park!
Visit Robert’s Prairie Dog Town
Located off Sage Creek Rim Road, this is one of the best spots in the park to view these cute little guys running around and poking their heads out of their burrows.
You’ll see these cute little guys all over on your South Dakota road trip
Spearfish Canyon
Spearfish canyon is a 20 mile South Dakota scenic byway that weaves along Spearfish Creek and between towering rock cliffs. It’s located about an hour to an hour and a half from most of the other Black Hills attractions, but it makes an interesting route to take on your South Dakota road trip if you’re headed from the Black Hills to destinations further North (like Devils Tower, which we talk about later).
Along the scenic route, there are some interesting stops to make at various viewpoints, hikes, and roadside waterfalls, including Bridal Veil Falls, the Devil’s Bathtub (a short hike to a swimming hole with a natural waterslide), Roughlock Falls, and Spearfish Falls.
Check out this site to learn a little more about these stops along Spearfish Canyon!
Deadwood and Lead
If you’re a history buff and into Old Western style themes and the Gold Rush era, then Deadwood and Lead would make excellent stops on a South Dakota road trip. These two historic towns are about 75 minutes from other Black Hills attractions, but like Spearfish, would make great detours on your way to places further North, or they can just be an interesting day trip!
Lead’s claim to fame is that it is home to the largest and deepest, and once highly productive, gold mine in the western hemisphere, which is now actually home to an underground laboratory studying dark matter particles! Because of its rich history, the town has landed a place on the National Register of Historic Places. Here, you can visit historical sites and museums to learn more about the town’s history.
Deadwood is the more touristy town of the two. This place has more of an old western saloon type of feel to it and has more touristy shops and restaurants. This town was born in the Gold Rush era and has become a National Historic Landmark District for preserving its old western architecture. During a visit you can walk through town, visit some famous sites frequented by well-known figures such as Wild Bill Hickok, and stop by historical museums, monuments, homes, and reenactments.
Devils Tower
Like the Badlands, Devils Tower is not in the Black Hills…in fact, it’s not even in South Dakota! It’s just over the border in Wyoming, and because it is only a few hours away from many of the top spots in the Black Hills region, many like to include a visit to Devils Tower on their South Dakota road trip itinerary.
Even though it’s in Wyoming, Devils Tower can still be easily added onto your South Dakota road trip!
This famous and massive geologic feature is well worth a stop if you happen to be passing through the area. It’s really cool to see the tower up close and to be able to hike around its base for different views and perspectives.
How Much Time Do You Need in South Dakota?
Watching the sunset in Badlands National Park…a must-do in South Dakota!
Now that you know all the fun things to do in the Black Hills of South Dakota, the question becomes, how much time do you need for a South Dakota road trip?
The good news is that with as little as one day, you can see a good chunk of the best places in the Black Hills. Of course, more time is always better, and with as much as a week on a South Dakota road trip in the Black Hills, you’ll always find something to do.
Below, we’ll give you some Black Hills South Dakota itinerary suggestions to help you plan your own road trip through this amazing state no matter how much time you have!
South Dakota Road Trip Itineraries
With so many great things to do in the Black Hills, how should you plan your time?
There are a ton of ways you can organize your South Dakota road trip itinerary through the Black Hills, but we wanted to give you a jumpstart to your planning by giving you some suggestions of how we would plan out our trip based on what we experienced the last time we visited.
We’ll give you suggestions of what to see and do in the Black Hills with just one day, all the way up to one week, so that no matter how long you’re there, we make sure that you hit many of the best stops on your South Dakota road trip.
One day in the Black Hills of South Dakota
If you have just one day in the Black Hills because you are visiting en route to somewhere else, you can still see and do a lot…we promise! Just be prepared to have a jam packed day.
Our recommended top thing to do in the Black Hills with one day would be to drive the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway. This 90-ish mile route through the Black Hills is the best bang for your buck…it combines three of the best South Dakota scenic drives and a lot of the best things to do in the Black Hills all on one driving route!
Tunnels cutting through the spires along the Needles Highway - part of the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway
On the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway, you’ll:
Drive Iron Mountain Road
Stop at Mount Rushmore
Visit Crazy Horse
Hike in Custer State Park
Drive the Needles Highway
Drive Wildlife Loop Road
See, we told you it would be a jam packed day! But it’s the best way to explore the Black Hills with limited time!
Alternative one day Black Hills itinerary
Make sure to include Wildlife Loop Road in your one day South Dakota road trip itinerary if you’re looking to spot lots of wildlife!
If driving the entire scenic byway sounds like a lot, and you would rather just focus on one area in the Black Hills, we would recommend spending your time in Custer State Park. Your day would look something like this:
In the morning, drive Wildlife Loop for your best shot at seeing wildlife (dawn and dusk are the best times!).
Drive the Needles Highway, making various stops along the way and doing one or two short hikes, or relaxing and kayaking at Sylvan Lake.
In the evening, drive Iron Mountain Road and visit Mount Rushmore to see the monument and experience the evening lighting ceremony.
Two to three day South Dakota road trip itinerary
With a few more days in the Black Hills, you can pack in quite a bit more into your South Dakota road trip. Here are our recommendations:
Day 1: Visit Custer State Park and Mount Rushmore
Spend the morning driving Wildlife Loop Road.
Drive the Needles Highway. Do a hike or two, and spend some time hanging out by Lake Sylvan.
Spend the afternoon/evening driving Iron Mountain Road and visiting Mount Rushmore.
If you have only two days in the Black Hills, choose from one of the next two days for your South Dakota road trip. With three days in the Black Hills, you can do both!
Day 2: Wind Cave National Park and Hot Springs
Head to Wind Cave National Park and grab a ticket to tour the cave.
While you’re waiting for your time slot, hike a trail above ground at the park (we recommend the Lookout Point-Centennial Loop Trail), or take a scenic drive through the park to spot wildlife, particularly bison, prairie dogs, and/or pronghorn!
Go on your Wind Cave Tour. When you’re done, head into Hot Springs to tour the Mammoth Site and grab dinner.
If you still have some daylight left as you head back toward Custer, take a spin through Wildlife Loop again to see if you can spot more or different types of wildlife (a different time of day than you drove it yesterday).
Day 3: Badlands National Park
Badlands National Park was definitely our favorite stop on our South Dakota road trip…just look at those views!
On the third day of your South Dakota road trip, head out of the Black Hills and take a day trip out to the Badlands! You can easily spend a whole day here, taking in the sights and doing a few hikes. For one day in the Badlands, we would recommend:
Driving Badlands Loop Road and stopping at each viewpoint
Choosing one or two short hikes (we would recommend the Notch and Door Trails, which are conveniently right next to each other!)
Driving Sage Creek Road in the evening to spot wildlife and visit the prairie dog town
Five day South Dakota road trip itinerary
You have five days in South Dakota? Lucky you! You can pretty much fit all the best things do in the Black Hills into your South Dakota itinerary. Here’s how we would do it:
Day 1: Custer State Park
With more time on your South Dakota itinerary, you can go at a more leisurely pace in Custer State Park and explore a bit more. On the first day, we would recommend doing the same thing we recommended for the three day itinerary above – drive Wildlife Loop Road, spend some time on the Needles Highway, and visit Mount Rushmore via Iron Mountain Road.
Day 2: Hike in Custer State Park
The Cathedral Spires Trail in Custer State Park is a great hike to add onto a South Dakota road trip!
We loved Custer State Park so much, we would recommend devoting a second day on your South Dakota road trip to it! You can spend more time hitting the trails and completing a bigger day hike. Our favorite was a combination of Black Elk Peak, Little Devils Tower, and Cathedral Spires…three of the best Custer hikes in one!
Day 3: Wind Cave and Hot Springs
This day will be similar to Day 2 in our three day South Dakota itinerary above. Visit both Wind Cave and the Mammoth Site.
Day 4: Jewel Cave, Crazy Horse, and/or Devils Tower day trip
Today, you have some decisions to make for your South Dakota road trip based on what interests you most. Here are some options we would recommend:
Option 1:
Spend the morning at Jewel Cave National Monument and tour the cave on a guided tour.
In the afternoon, after grabbing lunch in Custer, head up to Crazy Horse and stay for the evening laser show.
Option 2:
Visit Devils Tower. On the way back, drive through Spearfish Canyon, making various stops at viewpoints and waterfalls, and stop at Lead and Deadwood, where you can sightsee and grab dinner before heading back towards Custer.
Option 3:
Visit Devils Tower, but instead of visiting Spearfish, Lead, and Deadwood, you can visit either Jewel Cave or Crazy Horse in the afternoon.
Day 5: Badlands National Park
You’ll be saving the best for last on your South Dakota road trip by taking a day trip to sightsee and hike in Badlands National Park! We suggest planning your day as described in the three day South Dakota itinerary above.
One week South Dakota road trip itinerary
With a whole week in the Black Hills of South Dakota, you can literally do it all!
This South Dakota road trip itinerary will be similar to the five day itinerary above, but with an additional day in the Badlands. It will look something like this:
Day 1: Custer State Park (Wildlife Loop and the Needles Highway) during the day. In the afternoon, drive Iron Mountain Road to Mount Rushmore and stay for the evening light ceremony.
Day 2: Hike in Custer State Park (we recommend Black Elk Peak!).
Day 3: Visit Wind Cave National Park to tour the cave and go on a hike. In the evening, visit Hot Springs for the Mammoth Site and dinner.
Day 4: Visit Jewel Cave for a tour in the morning, and spend your afternoon and evening at Crazy Horse Memorial.
Day 5: Take a day trip up to Devils Tower, stopping at Spearfish Canyon, Lead, and Deadwood on the way out. We suggest heading to Badlands National Park tonight instead of back to Custer and the Black Hills so that you can get a head start on the day tomorrow!
Day 6: Spend the day at Badlands National Park by driving Badlands Loop Road, hiking the Notch and Door Trails, and driving Sage Creek Rim Road. We recommend staying in or near the Badlands tonight because you’ll be also be spending the last day of your South Dakota road trip here!
Day 7: With an additional day in the Badlands on your South Dakota itinerary, you can do more hiking, or spend time in the less visited south unit of the park by taking a scenic drive out to Red Shirt Table Overlook and/or Sheep Table Overlook. Or you can visit Wall Drug and the Minuteman Missile Site, which are both located close to the park. Definitely be sure to check out our Badlands National Park guide for more information on all of these options!
South Dakota Road Trip Map
We wanted to include this map of the best stops on a South Dakota road trip to help you plan your trip! This map contains the full one week South Dakota road trip. Be sure to click on the star to save it to your own Google Maps!
Where to Stay on a South Dakota Road Trip
The cool thing about going on a South Dakota road trip through the Black Hills is that many places are pretty close to each other, so you really just need one base camp to stay at and from there you can visit all of the Black Hill’s best spots.
The major areas to stay in the Black Hills include Rapid City, Keystone, Custer, Hill City, and Hot Springs. There are plenty of accommodation options in each of these towns. Where you choose to stay really just depends on where you are going to be focusing your time during your South Dakota road trip.
We think the most central area is right in Custer. We really liked staying in the Custer area during our South Dakota road trip, as it was pretty close to all the best places in the Black Hills that we wanted to visit. Custer State Park itself has lots of camping and lodging options if you want to stay within the park.
Keystone is about a half hour away from the Custer State Park visitor center. We would recommend staying here if your top priority in the Black Hills is seeing Mount Rushmore, or being closer to Rapid City. It’s also a great starting point to drive the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway if you only have one day to spend in the Black Hills.
Hill City lies along the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway and is perfectly doable for day trips to Mount Rushmore and Custer State Park, though we think staying in Custer would be more centrally located, especially if you plan on doing Wind Cave and Hot Springs. However, staying in Hill City will put you slightly closer towards Spearfish, Deadwood, and Lead.
Rapid City is the furthest from any of the best spots in the Black Hills. It’s convenient because this is where you’ll probably fly into, and it’s in a bigger city with more places to stay and eat, but that’s where the convenience ends. The other towns are definitely more centrally located, especially if you plan on being in the area for a while.
Camping in the Black Hills
There are tons of camping options located through the Black Hills National Forest. Check out all your options here.
The Best Time to Visit South Dakota
Taking a South Dakota road trip from spring through fall will allow you to experience the hikes and scenic drives
While South Dakota can be a year round destination, we would say that for this South Dakota road trip itinerary, you’ll want to focus your time anywhere between the spring and fall (which is still a lot of opportunity!).
The reason we suggest not planning for a South Dakota road trip in the winter is because you might have to skip out on some of the best things to do in the Black Hills because of weather and closures. South Dakota can get quite cold and snowy, and some of the scenic drives and park services may be closed. So to get the most out of your visit, winter might not be a great time to visit.
In summer, the crowds are the heaviest, and afternoon rain or thunderstorms may cause you to have some delays in your South Dakota road trip itinerary (so it’s always best to have a little padding!). Temperatures in the Black Hills stay pretty moderate (80s), but in the Badlands, it can get pretty darn hot during the day.
Spring and fall are good times to visit South Dakota as the summer crowds have waned, temperatures are nice, and in the fall you might have a chance to see some colors in the Black Hills region.
Tips for Your South Dakota Road Trip
You might end up in a few “traffic jams” on your South Dakota road trip!
Make sure to pack layers, even in the summer. Nights can get cooler. Plus, if you plan on spending time in both the Black Hills and the Badlands, you have to expect varying temperatures.
Pack rain gear. Especially in the summer, rain and storms are common in the afternoon in South Dakota.
Watch out for wildlife. South Dakota is well known for its wildlife. Be super vigilant when driving, especially in mornings and evenings when animals are most active. Also, be sure to keep your distance and never approach or feed any of the wildlife!
Check for road closures before heading out, especially in the shoulder seasons or winter. The Needles Highway and Iron Mountain Road are especially susceptible to closures with inclement weather (the Needles Highway completely closes with the first snowfall of the year through April 1st).
Download offline maps. Cell service may be limited or nonexistent in some areas.
Fees. Be prepared for paying park fees at a lot of spots in the Black Hills. A helpful tip is that if you know you’ll be visiting a lot of National Parks and Monuments in the coming year, it might be useful to invest in the annual National Parks Pass. At just $80, it pays for itself with just a few park visits! (Note: although they are National Park sites, this pass will not work at Wind Cave, Jewel Cave or Mount Rushmore. Wind Cave and Jewel Cave have free entry but charge fees for cave tours that do not accept the parks pass. Mount Rushmore has parking fees that are also not covered by the pass. This pass will get you into Badlands and Devils Tower, though!).
More Resources for Planning a South Dakota Road Trip
If you’re planning a South Dakota road trip, check out all our other South Dakota resources! We’ve mentioned most, if not all, of these throughout our post, but we wanted to include them all in one spot here for easy reference.
WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK: Check out our complete Wind Cave National Park guide for best things to do, cave tour information, and more.
BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK: Read more about the best things to do in Badlands National Park and about our favorite hikes in the Badlands.
CUSTER STATE PARK: Learn more about the best things to do in Custer State Park (including Wildlife Loop, Iron Mountain Road, and the Needles Highway), and read about our absolute favorite hike in the Black Hills - The Black Elk Peak-Little Devils Tower-Cathedral Spires hike.
MOUNT RUSHMORE: Check out what to do during a visit to Mount Rushmore National Monument.
DEVILS TOWER: Get our take on whether Devils Tower is worth the visit!
ONE DAY SOUTH DAKOTA ITINERARY: Learn how to see most of the top spots in the Black Hills by driving the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway in One Day
Are you planning a South Dakota road trip? What are you most excited for? Is there anything you would add to this list of best things to do in the Black Hills? Let us know in the comments!